On May 28, the Owens Art Gallery celebrated its 130th anniversary in Sackville, New Brunswick. A crowd gathered in the historic building for speeches, exhibitions, and tributes to the people who have shaped the gallery across generations.
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Founded in Saint John in the 1880s and moved to Sackville in 1895, the Owens is Canada’s oldest university art gallery. Peter Larocque of the New Brunswick Museum spoke about its namesake, John Owens, a Welsh immigrant who built his fortune in shipbuilding and left funds to support education in art and music.
Former director Gemey Kelly, who led the Owens for 29 years, said the gallery has remained relevant by embracing change. “It’s not like, come in here and be in an art bubble. You come in here, and you’re being asked to reflect on ideas and be part of a conversation.”
Artist and Mount Allison graduate Jon Sasaki echoed that sentiment. His new exhibition, “Homage,” opened the same night. “There’s something about Sackville that just pulls me back and makes me want to stay here,” he said. Sasaki’s show, “Homage,” features microbial landscapes grown from samples collected off tools once used by members of the Group of Seven. “It’s a sincere expression of my lifelong love of the Group of Seven,” he said during his speech. “But I also wanted to think about nature in a broader sense – even in the microscopic.”
Looking back and looking deeper
“The Owens is part of an arts ecosystem that includes other important organizations,” said current director Emily Falvey. “These galleries and organizations aren’t just buildings or events. They’re made of people.”
“The Owens has also been one of Mount Allison’s most visible and impactful means of demonstrating our commitment to decolonization and enhancing diversity and inclusion in our community,” said Mount Allison Vice-President Richard Eisner. “Exhibitions like ‘Estuaries’ invited reflection on the legacies of colonization and resistance in New Brunswick.”
Because Owens’ legacy is complicated. As noted by the gallery, his wealth was tied to direct involvement in the trade of 19th-century goods produced by enslaved Africans, including cotton and sugar. This history was explored in the Gallery’s 2024 exhibition “Estuaries.”
A legacy carried forward
The evening closed with gratitude for the people behind the gallery’s longevity. As Falvey said: “You, my friends, are the Owens Art Gallery.”
Pics from the event:
